President Rupiah Banda has directed management at Kitwe City Council to issue title deeds to Marketeers occupying stores at Chisokone Market.

President Banda said the Minister of Local Government and Housing Eustakio Kazonga must work with the Kitwe City Council to ensure that all the Marketeers were given Title deeds for all the Stores they had constructed at the Market.

He said this in Kitwe yesterday at the City Square during celebrations held to mark the Silver Jubilee for the Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA).

Mr. Banda said Government and its Institutions stands ready to work with ZANAMA and other informal sector players in alleviating the high poverty levels in the Country.

President Banda said there was need for peace loving Zambians to set aside their petty political differences and squabbles and rise together to confront the challenges being faced by the country.

He said the problems that the Country was facing today knew no color, no tribe, no race and no political party and that the nation could not continue to approach the problems that confront it with a spirit of blame, accusation and hatred.

He added that there are times when all citizens should first think about the good and dignity of the entire nation, no matter their beliefs or affiliation.

The President noted that although other organizations may not recognize ZANAMA he had no choice but to recognize the association because it deserved the recognition.

Mr. Banda said ZANAMA had designed a formula to constructively bring people together and not divide them on tribal grounds as other youthful leaders in higher positions were doing.

“Even those who may dislike you for what you have said, I want them to know that I appreciate it and they would have loved it if they were in my position too,” said President Banda.

And President Banda has warned that he will deal with Local Authorities that were undermining the operations of Marketeers.

He said Markets were providing a source of income for most of the vulnerable and poor Zambian’s in the Informal Sector hence the need for them to be provided with a conducive environment to trade from.

And speaking earlier at the same function ZANAMA President Elvis Nkandu
reaffirmed his association’s commitment to work with the Government of the day.

Mr. Nkandu said unlike other Associations that were working so hard to destroy the Nation and antagonize Government, ZANAMA would support the Government of the day to ensure that the prevailing poverty levels were reduced.

He said it was not possible for Government to create employment for all Zambians hence the need to develop the informal sector if it was to make any meaningful contribution to the growth of the economy.

And Mr. Nkandu has bemoaned the poor state of trading facilities for Marketeers in the Country.

He said despite Marketeers paying consistent levies to the Local Authorities, the councils have failed to plough back into the development of the Markets.

He said there was need to involve Marketeers in the management and planning of the development of the informal sector and other related sectors of the economy as the sector was currently taking care of several vulnerable and poor members of society.

He said there was need to regulate and come up with effective policies for the informal sector if it was to contribute effectively to the development of the Country.

Later at the same function Local Government and Housing Minister Eustakio Kazongo said Government was currently constructing and rehabilitating Markets in the Country in an effort to improve the environment in which Marketeers operated from.

And Copper belt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima said Government admired ZANAMA’s vision of adding value to the economic development and poverty alleviation efforts of the country.

ZANIS

GOVERNMENT says it will not entertain investors who will use the global economic crisis as an excuse for denying workers salary increments next year.

Speaking in Lufwanyama yesterday when he addressed Kagem Mine Limited management and employees, Labour and Social Services Minister Austin Liato said the mining sector has recovered from the effects of the global economic crisis and expects them to award salary increments to workers.

Mr Liato said government greatly cares for its citizens employed by foreign investors and would not allow investors to exploit them.

The Minister also urged workers not to engage in riots when airing their labour grievances to management but to instead use dialogue.

He further urged the workers to join the existing unions in the mining sector so that their labour concerns could be easily addressed.

Mr. Liato assured the workers that government was committed to ensuring that they were well treated by their employers and that they are given better conditions of service.

And speaking earlier, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxwell Mwale expressed happiness at the growth of production operations at Kagen Emerald Mining Limited in which government owns 25 percent shares.

Mr. Mwale said the company has grown from small scale production to large scale production.

He observed that the company would contribute significantly to the economic growth of the country. He urged the workers to support management so that the company becomes even more profitable and continues operations for them to be assured of job security and be able to support their families.

Mr. Mwale added that if the company is supported, it would grow and government will be able to raise revenue for developmental projects such as construction of schools, clinics and rehabilitation of roads.

And later after touring Grizzly Mining Limited, another gemstone mine, Mr Mwale commended the company for its corporate social responsibility programmes in Lufwanyama district.

He urged Grizzly management to continue supplementing government efforts in improving the livelihoods of the people.

The company has assisted the community by among other things, the construction of a school, clinic, rehabilitation of roads and construction of a bridge.

And speaking earlier Grizzly Mining Limited General Manager Carolyne Maphenduka said the company has this year invested over US$900 million in the implementation of strategies aimed at increasing production and improving the welfare of workers.

Ms. Maphenduka cited programmes such as purchasing of modern mining and mineral processing equipment, construction of dormitories for workers, construction of a modern workshop and fuel storage facilities among several others.

She urged others investors to emulate its corporate social responsibility programmes as government alone can not manage to address the various needs of its citizens.

She also appealed to government to continue supporting the gemstone sector so that it can contribute significantly to the economic growth of the country.
ZANIS

Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) has announced that Zambia and other four Countries will continue the process of developing compacts with the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) for the year 2010.

This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in the United States of America Ben Kangwa.

According to the Statement, Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America Dr Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika is pleased with Zambia’s continuation of the process of developing compacts in the coming year.

Dr. Lewanika said with the announcement, the MCC continues to recognize the efforts that the Zambian government is making to invest in its people through good governance, fighting Corruption, facilitating business and commitment to free markets and Education.

The announcement was made at a press briefing by the MCC New Executive officer, Daniel Johannes.

Mr. Johannes said the board of directors which includes Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reviewed the progress of its partnerships with countries like Zambia and others is to reduce poverty.

He added that the board agreed that Zambia, Malawi, Jordan, Indonesia and the Philippines are eligible to continue the process of developing compacts in fiscal year in 2010.

From mid 2006 until December, 2008 , Zambia has participated in a two year long US$22.7 billion MMC threshold program that focused on facilitating business registration , countering corruption and improving border management to help Zambia meet the eligibility criteria.

Since its inception in 2004, MCC has approved compacts totaling over US$7 billion with 91 partner countries.

ZANIS

The Ministry of Agriculture in Kafue District has launched investigations into reports of rotten maize seed that was delivered to a cooperative in Kafue’s Lukolongo area.

Kafue District Agriculture Coordinator John Hikanyemu told ZANIS in an interview today that his office has dispatched a team of experts to verify the reports.

He said the outcome of the investigation would determine the course of action the Ministry will take as to whether farmers should go ahead and plant the seed or not.

Mr. Hikanyemu who could not disclose the number of bags involved but confirmed that the cooperative involved was only one, said if the seeds were delivered rotten; the blame should be on the supplier.

He has meanwhile described the inputs distribution exercise in the district as going on smoothly.

He said so far 95% of the inputs have been distributed to cooperatives throughout the district by selected transporters and would come to a close anytime soon.

Mr. Hikanyemu said it was good that farmers had started receiving seed and D compound fertilizer.

He disclosed that this year’s number of beneficiaries was 10,640 compared to last year’s 3,240.

Mr. Hikanyemu stated that the increase in the number of farmer’s participation also saw an increase in the number of inputs from 25,920 to 42,560 bags of fertilizer.

He, however, noted that the slow pace of loading the trucks by the warehouse manager was a source of worry to many farmers in the district.

Mr. Hikanyemu said Omnia Zambia has only one manager who is loading and verifying both D and Urea fertilizer.

He said this has made transporters take long to load before distributing to sheds. He said there was need for Omnia Zambia to work out modalities to ensure loading is much faster.

Meanwhile Mr. Hikanyemu has dispelled rumors that fertilizer bags being delivered to Chipapa farm were under weights.

He said this was not true and that his office has not received any such complaints from farmer in the area.

Mr. Hikanyemu said it was common to receive such complaints every year adding that no such rumors have always been found to be true.

He explained that the problem of under weights normally originates from the source of packaging the fertilizer.

ZANIS